Uzeir Hajibeyli 7th International Music Festival

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The 7th International
Music Festival dedicated to the 130th anniversary of Uzeir
Hajibeyli, a composer
of genius, the founder of Azerbaijan’s professional music, took place on September
18-28, 2015 in Baku.

Well-known musicians and groups from Turkey, Russia,
Latvia, Estonia, Syria, Italy and Canada participated, along with those from
Azerbaijan, in the Festival held with organizational support from the Heydar
Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

On September 18, opening of the Festival took place at
the Heydar Aliyev Palace. The Festival
was announced open by performing an overture from Koroghlu Opera by the Uzeir
Hajibeyli State Symphonic Orchestra. People’s Artist Rauf Abdullayev was the
Orchestra’s artistic director and conductor.

At the evening, an interesting concert program was
arranged, where the State Choir of Azerbaijan, the ballettroupe of the Opera
and Ballet Theatre, the State Dance Ensemble, and the State Music Theatre of
Azerbaijan performed.

In general, over 30 events took place during the days
of Festival. Within the Festival,
concert programmes by the State Symphonic Orchestra of Azerbaijan named after
Uzeir Hajibeyli, the State Chamber Orchestra of Azerbaijan named after Gara
Garayev, “Russian Saxophone Quartet”, Latvia’s symphonic orchestra and musicians
of the European and Mediterranean Sea Academy (EMMA) were presented. Music comedies “O olmasyn bu olsun”, “Husband
and wife” and “Arshynmal alan” by Uzeir Hajibeyli
were shown at the State Music Theatre of Azerbaijan, and a premiere of Manon Lescaut Opera by Italian composer Giacomo
Puccini took place.

“Master classes” and “open lessons” were arranged with
participation of President of the European Music Academy Paolo Petrocelli,
Estonia’s well-known cellist Miina Jarvi and Italian pianist Michele
Campanella.

Dedicated to the eminent composer’s 130th anniversary, the scientific
conference was attended by a number of art critics-scholars, along with
cultural and art figures.

The Music Festival came to an end on September 28. At
the closing ceremony, works by K. M. Weber and L. V. Beethoven were performed
by the State Symphonic Orchestra of Azerbaijan named after Uzeir Hajibeyli. A
soloist of the Orchestra, directed by Honoured Person of Art Fakhraddin Karimov,was
Russian pianist Andrei Shibko.

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In accordance with Order of
the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On holding the Music Day of Uzeir”
of 18 September 1995, each year on 18th September, the traditional
Music Day of Uzeir is held. On this
occasion, a series of concerts, events, exhibitions and other cultural events
are held in the republic.

Since 2009, an international music festival dedicated
to Uzeir Hajibeyli has been held.